Frequently Asked Questions

Ink Related

Q: I do not see my printer listed. Can I still use your ink product?
A: Stratitec ink is a universal product that can be used with any inkjet printer. Many customers still refill their printer cartridges using the old drill and fill method using our ink product.

Q: Is Stratitec ink made in the USA?
A: Indeed it is, as are the ink bottles, labels, and shipping boxes.

Q: Is your ink harmful if swallowed?
A: FIRST AID PROCEDURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Q: What is the shelf life of your ink?
A: Stratitec ink is best used within 1 year of your purchase date, however if stored in a climate controlled environment, it can still be effective for up to 3 years or more. We have some customers who are still using the ink they purchased 10 years ago with no problems.

Q: Will your ink damage my printer?
A: No. Stratitec Ink is a universal product specifically designed to work with inkjet printers.

Q: Can I use your universal ink in my Epson Ecotank Supertank, HP DeskJet GT Series, or Canon Pixma G Series printer?
A: Yes. Stratitec sells a universal inkjet ink product that performs well in all inkjet printers, including cartridge-less printers like the Ecotank.

Q: Is the print quality of your ink the same as the OEM ink? What is "universal ink" anyway?
A: The average user will not be able to tell the difference. It is worth noting, however, that each printer manufacturer has their own patented ink formulation specifically designed for their product, and although universal inks can get very close to matching the OEM quality, there may be some slight differences (typically indiscernible to the average user).

Q: What is the difference between regular magenta/cyan/black and photo magenta/cyan/black?
A: Some printers require photo magenta, photo cyan, and photo black in addition to regular magenta, cyan, and black. These inks are simply lighter versions of magenta/cyan/black and are meant to improve the color range quality of printed photos.

Q: Can I use photo magenta, photo cyan, or photo black in place of regular magenta, cyan, or black (or vice versa)?
A: Technically, yes. But the colors on the printed page will be different than what the printer manufacturer intended.

Q: What is the difference between pigment ink and dye ink?
A: Without going into too much detail, pigment ink is physically different than dye ink. Pigment ink is more like acrylic paint than is dye ink. Because of this, it resists fading better and is water resistant. On the flip side, pigment ink takes longer to dry, it costs more, and it cannot produce the rich colors that dye inks produce. This is why some printers will mix pigment cartridges with dye ink cartridges. If your printer has a single black cartridge, it is likely pigment ink. If you have two black cartridges, you have a mix.

Q: Can I use regular inks (dye based) in place of my pigment ink or vice versa?
A: Technically you can substitute dye inks in your pigment cartridge, and many people do this without an issue, but we still recommend using pigment ink if pigment ink is called for. The reverse is not true, however, as putting pigment ink in your dye ink cartridge can cause problems.

Q: Why does my printer requires both pigment black and regular black ink?
A: Some printers are designed with the ability to use pigment black for normal printing and the regular black (or photo black or even a mix of colors to make black) when printing to photo paper.

Q: How do I get ink stains off of my hands?
A: For best results, wash your hands with soap and warm water immediately. Whatever ink did not come off during this initial wash will come off with continued washing.

Q: How do I get ink stains out of clothing?
A: Immediately rinse the stained area with cold water, and then saturate the item with hair spray containing alcohol. Place a white, absorbent cloth or towel under the stain to catch the excess ink. You then need to blot the stain with a clean cloth. Repeat this process until the stain is removed, then launder as usual.

Caution: Some fabrics may be damaged by the hair spray solution. If in doubt, test on a hidden area first. Some fabrics may stain immediately and it may not be possible to completely clean them.

Ink Cartridge Related

Q: Will using a refillable cartridge void my printer warranty?
A: The answer is no. Printer manufacturers are not allowed to void warranties for customers who use refillable cartridges because it is ultimately against trade policy.

Q: Will downloading a software update to my printer cause the cartridges to fail?
A: In some cases, yes it will, especially with HP printers. The computer chips on Stratitec cartridge sets are programmed to work with the current software release of your printer at the time of your purchase. The printer market makes most of their money by selling the consumer ink, so of course they will do what they can to deter the end user from purchasing non-OEM ink products. We do not recommend that you install any printer software updates if you are using Stratitec inkjet cartridges, however, owners of Epson, Brother, and Canon printers have a much lower risk level than HP owners when it comes to installing updates.

Q: I do not see my printer manufacturer or printer listed. Do you have cartridges for me?
A: We only carry refillable cartridges for Brother, Canon, Epson and HP. If your printer is made by one of these companies, and you do not see your printer in the list, then please email us before ordering so we can verify that we have a cartridge product for your printer.

Q: Can I really save money using refillable cartridges?
A: Absolutely. Using the HP 940 cartridge set as an example, as of 2015, Office Depot charged close to $100 for the four cartridge set (with ink). The same refillable cartridge set from Datatekusa/Stratitec, Inc. was selling for $39.99 at the time of this writing, and the refill kit sold for $19.99.

Each color cartridge holds between 10 and 12 ml of ink (black cartridges generally hold more). Each bottle of Stratitec ink is 85 ml. At 12 ml per refill, each kit will give the user approximately 7 refills. In the case of our HP 940 example, the savings to the consumer would be around $600.

Q: I am having trouble filling the refillable cartridges. Where can I find help?
A: Visit our TROUBLESHOOTING page for tips.

Q: How long do your refillable cartridges last?
A: The answer to this ultimately depends on how often you print and what type of care you give your printer. If you are printing 200 copies of War and Peace every day, then obviously the cartridges will not last as long. If you rarely print, and the cartridges dry out, then you can also expect them to fail prematurely. The average working life of these cartridges is around 2 years, although many users have greatly exceeded that.

Q: What is the warranty on your refillable cartridges?
A: We offer a one year limited warranty.

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